McLaren CEO Zak Brown boasted following the extension of Oscar Piastri’s contract with the team, claiming “we’ve got the best driver line-up [in Formula 1]”.
On the eve of his third season, Piastri has signed a multi-year contract extension with McLaren, tagging on more years to an extension he signed in 2023 that would have kept him in Papaya through 2026.
With his future secured further beyond that, it’s clear that McLaren is backing Piastri to continue his rapid progression for years to come.
Even with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc teaming up at Ferrari, Brown believes that Piastri compromises the strongest driver pairing in F1 alongside Lando Norris.
“It’s fantastic to confirm Oscar’s extension with McLaren,” said Brown.
“Not only is he an incredibly talented driver, but his work ethic and cultural fit within the team made it a no-brainer to extend his time in papaya.
“We’ve got the best driver line-up on the grid, and in the past two seasons, we’ve seen how much of an asset to the team Oscar is both on and off track.
“He was absolutely fundamental in adding to our legacy with the 2024 Constructors’ Championship last season, so we’re all excited to see what we can do in the years to come as we continue to fight for World Championships together.”
Without the blockbuster Ferrari pairing, it’s hard to put Brown’s statement in doubt, given Norris and Piastri combined for six wins in 2024 and delivered McLaren a Constructors’ title.
Red Bull’s line-up now has an unknown element in Liam Lawson, who has yet to prove himself at the highest level and Mercedes features rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in its line-up.
That leaves McLaren with one of, if not, as Brown says, the strongest line-up on the grid, depending on if Hamilton rediscovers his mojo in red.
Andrea Stella: Piastri extension is what McLaren needed
Piastri’s extension comes a year on from team-mate Norris securing a long-term future with McLaren.
Norris’ previous contract was due to expire at the end of 2025 before he was handed a multi-year extension last January.
It shows McLaren has faith its driver line-up can build on the successes of last season and it’s putting money where its mouth is regarding Brown’s boastful claims.
Team Principal Andrea Stella, meanwhile, believes McLaren has just the drivers it needs to continue its title push for years to come.
“It has been a pleasure working with Oscar throughout the past two seasons and he has continued to prove how impressive he is in terms of his talent, determination and work ethic as a driver and his contribution to our team and culture as a person,” he said.
“Alongside Lando, we have what we need locked in for the long term to keep pushing forward.
“I look forward to continuing to watch Oscar grow and develop as a driver and know that many successes lie ahead for him.”
READ MORE – Oscar Piastri signs multi-year F1 contract extension with McLaren
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